Mock Draft Series: 1.2 Full First Round

This edition of my Mock Draft Series gives a breakdown of the full first round mock selections of each team. The full first round has been completed, but stay tuned for any updates to the series and the first round. Next in the series I will look into the second round for each team. The links are given for PFC Scouting Reports on these players.

With the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft the Kansas City Chiefs select Luke Joeckel. It something every football player dreams about when they begin playing, and Joeckel gets to live that dream. There have been rumors the chiefs are interested in Geno Smith. It won’t happen; the chiefs just traded for Alex Smith and they won’t waste their pick on another QB. After releasing Eric Winston and franchise tagging Branden Albert the Chiefs won’t be passing up on Joeckel. Joeckel can play both left and right tackle for the Chiefs if a Branden Albert trade does occur.

Last year the Jacksonville Jaguars ranked dead last in the pass rush with 20 sacks. What can Dion Jordan bring the Jaguars? Athleticism in the pass rush and would be a huge aid in improving those numbers. New coach Gus Bradley will be looking to build a team with speed and Jordan fits that mold. Jordan can also help the Jaguars in pass coverage who gave up 239 yards per game.

Floyd’s draft stock has flown up draft boards over the past month. After Star Lotulelei couldn’t perform at the combine, Floyd’s stock has blown up and he is considered the best DT in the draft. This pick here is a no brainer after the offseason moves of the Raiders. They gave up the 5th most PPG this past season and have huge holes on their defensive line. Yesterday the Raiders released Tommy Kelly and have already lost Desmond Bryant to the Browns, and cut ties with Richard Seymour.

This pick could either be the Eagles or the Bills trading up. Chip Kelly will need a capable quarterback to run his wide open offense. Smith ran it at West Virginia and after a strong Pro Day, he solidified himself as a top 5 pick. The Eagles are still worried about the durability of Mike Vick, and Chip Kelly will demand a QB he wants to run his offense in his first year of the NFL.

Fisher, who could easily be swapped with #1 overall pick Luke Joeckel, fills a huge need for the Detroit Lions. The Lions lost starting Left Tackle Jeff Backus, 176 straight starts, to retirement. Games are won at the line of scrimmage and the Lions will want to quickly replace Backus, and aid QB Mathew Stafford and newly signed Running Back Reggie Bush. Fisher, along with last year’s first round pick Riley Reiff, gives the Lions anchors on the offensive line for years to come.

Milliner to the Browns is starting to add up more and more every day for me. They clearly want to build into a top defense with the signings of Kruger, Bryant, and Groves during Free Agency. Opposite of Joe Haden the Browns really don’t have a starting CB on their roster without Sheldon Brown. Buster Skrine had a lot of “busted” coverage last year and the Browns options are limited right now. Milliner and Joe Haden would make a good cornerback tandem of prior SEC standouts. The Browns took Haden in 2010 at pick 7 and will likely do so with Milliner at 6.

7. Arizona Cardinals- Ezekiel Ansah OLB

The Cardinals will take the best available player at this spot and that happens to be Ansah. The Cardinals face 2 read option QB’s in the division and Ansah will be a big asset there. He also is strong in the pass rush, something the Cardinals need to improve after losing Quinton Groves. The Cardinals have solidified their defensive backfield with Yeremiah Bell and Antoine Cason signings this offseason, and adding Ansah will make their defense one of the better in the NFL.

Last week I had the Bills taking Barkley with this pick. Well the Bills have found a quarterback in Kevin Kolb. Patterson possesses good size and speed to be a prime target for Kolb to pair with Stevie Johnson.

The Jets only recorded 30 sacks this past year which was the 6th worst in the league. Clearly the Jets lack a top notch pass rusher. Adding Barkevious Mingo will help improve that. He is a guy right now that will strictly be used to rush the pass and that’s what the Jets need to have in their 3-4 defense. I felt the Jets could have easily gone offense here as well but I think the Jets defense should be their main concern in the AFC East.

The Titans added veteran Andy Levitre this offseason and will continue to upgrade their line through the draft. Pairing Warmack with Levitre will open up some big holes for Chris Johnson to run through. Warmack is one of the best overall prospects in this draft and I feel he would be a great fit for the Titans at 10.

After a strong performance Johnson is flying up draft boards. Johnson can easily land himself in the top 10 in April. The Chargers current Offensive Line has failed at protecting Philip Rivers. Jared Gaither has had troubles staying healthy since joining the Chargers. In 2012 the Chargers started 10 different linemen and is obviously their biggest need in this draft.

As the Dolphins look for a replacement of Jake Long, the top three tackles are off the board. The Dolphins will look to replace another player lost in free agency, Sean Smith. The Dolphins were able to sign Brent Grimes but it’s only a one year deal and they need someone opposite of him. He can be an immediate starter for the Dolphins opposite of Grimes after losing Smith.

Two teams with huge corner needs draft back to back. The Buccaneers lost Aqib Talib and they will need to move ahead of the Dolphins if they want to secure Rhodes. With Rhodes being taken the Buccaneers look to Banks. Banks who is 6’2” is a physical corner who would fit in well defending the pass heavy teams of the NFL South.

14. Carolina Panthers- Star Lotulelei DT

Talk about a value pick for the Panthers. Lotulelei was a top 5 pick at one point. Teams shied away from Lotulelei after his medical scare that held him from participating. He reproved his stock after his Pro Day posting 38 bench reps, 30 inches in the Vertical Jump, and 4.65 shuttle. The Panthers were able to resign starting DT Dwan Edwards but Lotulelei gives the Panthers more options in defending the run.

15. New Orleans Saints- Kenny Vaccaro S

The Saints defense struggled against the pass last year ranking 2nd last and giving up 292 yards a game. Roman Harper will be 31 during the 2013 season and Malcolm Jenkins is in his contract year. The Saints were able to sign Keenan Lewis, but adding Vaccaro will give the Saints an upgrade in the secondary defending the pass.

After losing Danny Amendola to the Patriots in Free Agency the Rams will look to reload their number one wide receiver spot. Patterson possesses good size and speed at the receiver position. The Rams were able to sign Jake Long in free agency to help improve the protection time for Sam Bradford.

James Harrison, the Steelers leader in sacks, was cut this offseason. The Steelers will need to find a young pass rusher to replace him. Lamar Woodley hasn’t had the same production he did in 2010 the past two years and Jones gives the Steelers a young pass rush specialist. In two seasons he totaled 28 sacks and was also a guy that was a potential top five pick at one point before a medical scare.

18. Dallas Cowboys- Jonathan Cooper OG

After reaching a new contract six year contract with QB Tony Romo, the Cowboys must get players to protect him. Tyron Smith has seemed to be the only viable option on the current roster to protecting Romo.

19. New York Giants – Bjoern Werner DE Florida St.

The Giants love finding pass rushers on their defense. Osi Umenyiora is a free agent and Justin Tuck had an unproductive year. Werner has a lot of raw potential and will learn from Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul and down the road can be one of the better pass rushers in the league.

The Bears and longtime linebacker Brian Urlacher have parted their ways. Urlacher was getting old anyways and he needed upgrading. Minter, I feel is the best Inside Linebacker in this draft and would fit well in the Bears 4-3 scheme. He is best at stopping the running and the Bears will need to replace that from losing Urlacher.

21. Cincinnati Bengals- DJ Fluker OT

Andre Smith’s mystery continues through the free agency madness. If Smith hasn’t signed a contract by the draft its highly unlikely he’ll be in a Bengals uniform next season. The Bengals will look to the impressive Alabama offensive line to replace Smith, and that guy is Fluker. Fluker is big standing at 6-5’ and 339 lbs. and possess good run blocking abilities. The Bengals have struggles at running back and Fluker will be able to open up some holes to help.

22. St. Louis Rams- Jonathan Cyprien S

At pick 16, I have the Rams adding help to the offensive side of the game with Tavon Austin. At 22 I think the Rams will be going defense. Getting 2 guys in the top 22 will be a huge help for the Rams, especially with one on each side. With Kenny Vaccaro off the board, the Rams look to the next best safety, Cyprien. The Rams need help in the defensive backfield, Quintin Mikell was released, and Craig Dahl is gone to the 49ers.

Richardson is one of the best prospects left on the board and he makes sense for the Vikings. Starter Kevin Williams will be 33 at the beginning of the season and Letroy Guion isn’t a starter. Richardson is most effective against and Vikings can use some help there.

24. Indianapolis Colts- Datone Jones DE

Jones has experience in the 3-4 from his time at UCLA and gives the Colts versatility with both his hand on the ground and standing up. The Colts were able to sign Rick Jean-Francois but the Colts need more pass rushing weapons than him. Dwight Freeney is gone and Jones can become the Colts premier pass rusher.

If the Vikings are able to lock up Sheldon Richardson at pick 23, then Arthur Brown will make a lot of sense. Brown is a 3 down backer who excels against both the run and pass. The Vikings have a big need at the linebacker position. Erin Henderson is only a 2 down backer and Jasper Brinkley is gone. If the Vikings add DT help at pick 23 to eat up blockers for Brown, we could be looking at the Defensive ROY and a scary combo for years to come.

If there’s a Running back drafted in the first round this year it’s Lacy, and it’s too the Green Bay Packers. Alabama running backs have had continued success in the NFL. Name me one consistent Green Bay running back? Alex Green could have stolen the show but he didn’t. Though he did show some good stuff in the playoffs, DuJuan Harris isn’t a feature back. With Greg Jennings gone this team will need to balance the run and pass a bit more than usual.

Hunter standing at 6”-4’ and weighing 200 lbs. supplies the Texans with a solid #2 receiver. He can learn from Andre Johnson, who is 30, and then become the Texans number 1 down the road. The Texans have lacked a consistent option at the spot opposite Johnson and can finally get that with Hunter.

28. Denver Broncos- Sylvester Williams DT

The Broncos were able to add Terrance Knighton in free agency but there hasn’t been much production from him in recent years. Williams beefs up the middle of the Broncos 4-3 defensive front. Williams gets in backfields against the run and has a quick first step against the pass.

The Patriots were able to resign Aqib Talib but it’s only a one year deal. Trufant will be a good fit opposite of Talib with a secondary that boasts Adrian Wilson and Devin McCourty at safeties. Trufant, brother of Marcus Trufant, is best in man coverage and has good speed.

30. Atlanta Falcons- Jamar Taylor CB

The Falcons cut Duanta Robinson and Brent Grimes has signed with the Dolphins. The Falcons are in the pass heavy NFC South and will need to solidify their cornerback spot after giving up 242 yards per game in the air. Taylor can play both man and zone coverage schemes and shows good speed with a 4.37 40 time.

31.San Francisco 49ers- Eric Reid S

After losing Dashon Goldson to the Buccaneers and getting picked apart by Joe Flacco in the Super Bowl, the 49ers need safety help. With Cyprien and Vaccaro well off the board, enter Eric Reid. Reid is a downhill player with the physicality to fit well in the 49ers defense. Reid has the size and athleticism to cover the hybrid Tight end/receivers in the slot.

Though I don’t think he is a first round talent, Te’o is a perfect fit for the Ravens. Te’o will become the successor to retired Ray Lewis. Te’o is still a good football player who the Ravens can turn into the next Ray Lewis. Te’o is aggressive with good natural instincts, both qualities that have made Ravens linebackers successful.